MANILA, Philippines— The way Filipinos consume news is undergoing a dramatic transformation. According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025, a growing number of Filipinos are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Bard as their go-to news source a notable shift marking the first time these tools have been categorised as a distinct media channel since the institute began tracking trends in 2012.
The global report, released Tuesday, reveals that 9 percent of Filipinos surveyed now use AI chatbots to get their news. While that figure remains relatively modest, researchers noted its significance in shaping future media behaviour, especially among younger demographics.
“While the numbers are still relatively small overall, they are markedly higher for young audiences,” said Mitali Mukherjee, Director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
Rise of the Digital-First Consumer
Beyond AI chatbots, the report underscores a broader trend: Filipinos are increasingly reliant on digital platforms for news. A staggering 85 percent of those surveyed identified “any online” source, including websites and apps, as their primary news channel. This was followed by 66 percent who cited social media, 46 percent who mentioned television, and just 13 percent who still rely on print media.
“The decline of TV and print has plateaued as Filipinos seek news on the worsening political polarisation,” noted University of the Philippines associate professor Yvonne Chua, who contributed to the report. “Social media, however, remains their preferred news source.”
The rise of personality-driven news on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts is also gaining traction. In the Philippines, 12 percent of respondents now turn to podcasts for news, an emerging alternative media ecosystem that’s gaining legitimacy, especially among those seeking voices outside of traditional media channels.
Video Reigns Supreme in News Delivery
Another significant trend highlighted in the report is the growing preference for video over text. Globally, the consumption of news via video has surged: social video usage rose from 52 percent in 2020 to 65 percent in 2025, while overall video news consumption climbed from 67 percent to 75 percent.
In countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya, and India, more people now prefer to watch the news rather than read it. This shift, researchers argue, is encouraging the rise of personality-led news creators who deliver information in more digestible and engaging formats.
Trust in News Inches Up, But Challenges Persist
Despite the digital shift, trust in news has seen a marginal improvement. According to the report, overall trust among Filipinos rose to 38 percent, up from 37 percent the previous year. However, this optimism is tempered by a simultaneous decline in trust across most individual media brands.
“Trust in nearly all media brands covered in this report slid over the past year amid intensified political disinformation, at least some of which is aimed at mainstream outlets for allegedly biassed coverage,” Chua wrote.
She also warned against equating public trust with actual content reliability. “Public trust is not in itself a measure of the quality or trustworthiness of the content,” she emphasised.
Moreover, she observed that media outlets critical of political figures are often “actively distrusted by supporters of the politicians in question and subject to coordinated harassment.”
Nearly Half of Filipinos Actively Avoid the News
Interestingly, 48 percent of Filipino respondents said they sometimes or often avoid the news altogether, a figure in line with global patterns of news fatigue. Among the top reasons cited were the negative effect on mood (39 percent), information overload (31 percent), excessive focus on conflict or politics (29–30 percent), and a sense of helplessness (20 percent).
Additionally, 18 percent said consuming the news led to arguments they’d rather avoid, while another 18 percent found it irrelevant to their lives. A smaller but telling 9 percent said the news was simply too hard to understand.
In the Philippines, that figure climbs among younger audiences: 16 percent of Filipinos under 35 admitted difficulty following or understanding news content, compared to 11 percent among those 35 and older.
A Future Fueled by AI and Algorithms
As AI technology becomes more sophisticated and embedded in daily digital routines, the line between journalism and algorithm-driven content is increasingly blurred. While legacy media struggles to retain trust and relevance, AI tools, despite their infancy in this space, are emerging as a serious alternative for news-hungry users, particularly among younger and digitally native Filipinos.
If current trends continue, the next generation of news consumers may not just watch or read the headlines; they may ask a chatbot to summarize them instead.
